Gainesville, Fla. – Librarian Linda Cue received the 13th annual Guy Hudspeth Award from the Alachua County Library District Foundation Board Sunday, March 8 for her work with vulnerable populations including incarcerated patrons.
The foundation added Cue’s name and seven others to Katherine’s Tree, a 10-foot glass etching of the Tree of Knowledge standing in Headquarters Branch, 401 E. University Ave. This year’s additions to the tree included three Friends of the
The Guy Hudspeth Award, sponsored by the Kosman Foundation, honors an outstanding Library District employee annually. The award is named for retired librarian Guy Hudspeth.
The 2020 Guy Hudspeth Award winner Linda Cue, a librarian in the Adult Services Department, has impacted many lives in her 18 years with the Library District. She pioneered the Re-Entry Partnership conference and job fair and Job Club to assist people with criminal backgrounds and other barriers to employment. She collaborated with the Matheson Museum and the University of Florida Oral History Program to transcribe oral local histories with help from Alachua County Jail inmates. As the jail librarian, Cue set up the "Read to Me Program" enabling incarcerated fathers to make recordings of story books to share with their children. Cue also helped the Jail Library secure a grant to start a book club for juvenile inmates. Cue is an avid reader and poet.
“I am grateful for this award and the opportunity to serve my community and library patrons for almost 20 years,” Cue said.
Sunday’s other honorees are as follows:
Linda Boyles (donor: Friends of the Library) A faithful FOL volunteer, Boyles helps select a book to be donated to Head Start students each year, contributes to the newsletter, and helps oversee the cookbook section at the bi-annual book sales.
Bill Burk (donor: Friends of the Library) Burk has volunteered with FOL for 12 years and is willing to take on any task. He’s even recruited his daughter to volunteer with the organization.
In memory of Helen Duschatko (donor: Friends of the Library and family members) This gift is made in memorial of Duschatko, an avid reader and longtime FOL volunteer.
In memory of Mary Louise O'Haire Cleary (donor: Geraldine Nichols) Born in 1911, Cleary was a world traveler always ready for adventure, and a voracious reader - a passion she passed on to all her children.
In honor of Aunt Katherine (donor: Marilyn Tubb on behalf of Roxie Mergenthaler) Mergenthaler is the niece of the Katherine Anne Tubb, for whom this tree is named, and shares her late aunt’s love of books and reading.
Lita and Peter Fake (donor: Lita and Peter Fake) This donation was made in appreciation for “the superb services provided by the libraries of Alachua County.”
In memory of Richard D. Downie (donor: Masuma Downie) After retiring as director of University of Florida’s international programs, Richard was a frequent library patron. He visited the Tower Road Branch and appreciated the Interlibrary Loan books which the librarians always managed to acquire for him.